Bronzeville Qualifications for the Obama Presidential Library

Submitted by the President Obama Library and Museum Campus Foundation 501 (c)(3)

QUALIFICATIONS for the
BARACK
OBAMA
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Obama
44
Campus
June 16, 2016
Martin H. Nesbitt
The Barack Obama Foundation
300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Dear Mr. Nesbitt:
As a board member of the President Obama Library and Museum Campus
Foundation, I am pleased and honored to present to you our response to your
request for qualifications for hosting the Barack Obama Presidential Library.
Beyond the medium presented here, we Chicagoans in Bronzeville have
anticipated the opportunity to host Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy since his election in 2008.
His story is our story, his journey is reflected in our history, and his vision of hope
and change will be realized by our future. By working with more than twenty
different companies, organizations, and community groups we have embodied the
grassroots spirit of the Obama campaign to truly reflect the ideals of the people it
represents.
There have been many proposals for the Michael Reese site, but considering
its namesakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character and that of the surrounding community the Obama
Presidential Library is undoubtedly the best and highest use of the location. On
behalf of our team, thank you sincerely for this unique opportunity to serve the
President, the South Side of Chicago, and people around the world.
Paula Robinson
Board Member
President Obama Library and Museum Campus Foundation
ObamaCampus.com
Addr
Phon
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
table of
contents
one
executive summary
two
why bronzeville?
three
response content
•
respondent information
•
project site
•
transportation & accessibility
•
project execution
•
community engagement
•
indications of support
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
1
exec
utive
sum
mary
executive
summary
OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LEARNING CAMPUS - A NEW
URBAN PARADIGM FOR CHICAGO
The Burnham Plan of 1909 was bold and visionary. Born out
of necessity to solve immediate problems, the plan ultimately
transformed Chicago and provided a grand template that still
inspires and guides us today when planning the City’s future
growth.
Echoing Daniel Burnham’s admonition to “make no little plans”,
our plan for Bronzeville is comprehensive and bold. The Barack
Obama Presidential Library represents a seed of transformation
that once planted, would have the power to revitalize the site. It
has the potential to create new urban spaces that would initiate
lasting change and reinvigorate the surrounding community.
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
5
executive
summary
LEADERSHIP
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Barack Obama’s presidency has been built on
the idea of change; his library would manifest
that theme for Bronzeville and the greater
South Side. The project would serve as a
catalyst, promoting sustainable growth and
targeting investment to deliver clear economic
EHQH¿WVWRWKHFRPPXQLW\ZKLOHUHPDLQLQJWUXH
to the neighborhood’s history.
Chicago is a city known for its strong urban
grid, in large part due to the Burnham Plan.
Throughout the city, appropriately scaled
streets seamlessly connect neighborhoods
to parks and Lake Michigan. The existing
Michael Reese site in Bronzeville breaks that
connection by creating a barrier between
Bronzeville and the lakefront. Our proposal
JLYHVWKHODNHIURQWEDFNWRWKHSHRSOHDQG¿OOV
a gap in Chicago’s necklace of public assets
that stretches from Evanston to Northwest
Indiana. The proposed elevated park would
provide park views along 31st, 29th and 26th
streets, inviting the community to the site.
Presidential libraries have traditionally been
VWDWLFUHÀHFWLRQVRIDSUHVLGHQF\2XUSURSRVDO
challenges that trend. By fully realizing the
potential of the site, the Barack Obama
Presidential Library would go beyond simply
cataloguing President Obama’s eight years in
RI¿FHWRH[SODLQKRZKLVVHUYLFHLVURRWHGLQ
past events and ways in which it will impact
the future. A living part of its host community, it
would drive economic development, create a
sense of place, promote inclusivity at the ethnic
crossroads of Chicago. Most importantly, it
would accomplish all this without displacing the
people who call it home.
6
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
By connecting the site to the lake, we would
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would play a key role in the area. It would not
only contribute to the economic vitality of the
neighborhood but would house vertical farms
and have dedicated land for ongoing research
in environmental and related sciences.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINE
NEIGHBORHOOD
The entire site is a tool for environmental
performance that would utilize Biomimicry to be
functionally indistinguishable from the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
natural coastal environment. The site would be
designed to meet living building and ecological
performance standards, becoming a model of
WZHQW\ÂżUVWFHQWXU\KHDOWK\XUEDQOLYLQJFDUERQ
neutrality, and regenerative design.
The Obama Presidential Library would
revitalize the historic Bronzeville community.
With a commitment to develop without
displacement, we envision a campus with
integrated commercial and mixed-income
residential development that would result in a
stronger Bronzeville, the Obama Presidential
Library at its core.
Because ours is a coastal site with views
of the lake it gives us the opportunity to
build upon Burnhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;City in a
Gardenâ&#x20AC;?. It would help achieve objectives of
the Millennium Reserve, Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Great Outdoorsâ&#x20AC;? initiative, and the Burnham
Wildlife Corridor Bird Sanctuary. Vertical
IDUPLQJDQGGHGLFDWHGVSDFHIRUVFLHQWLÂżF
research would engage visitors in dynamic
ways, promoting environmental awareness and
stewardship.
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Bronzeville, JuneT H13,
E B A2014;
R A C K O photo
B A M A P Rby
E S I DJJ
E N TJetel
IAL LIBRARY
why
this
site?
bronzeville
vast economic po
nexus of connect
global reach.
the perfect comm
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
otential.
tivity.
munity.
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
the peggy notebaert nature museum
chicago history museum
navy pier & chicago childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s museum
millennium park
the art institute of chicago
field museum
soldier field
OBAMA LIBRARY SITE
museum of science and industry
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Recreation
Millennium Park
Entertainment
Navy Pier
Industry
Museum of Science and Industry
connecting
Science
Family
Chicago Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum
Field Museum
the chicago
Sport
Art
The Art Institute of Chicago
Nature
Soldier Field
necklace
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Education
Chicago Cultural Center
p
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
guiding
principles
core
RESPONSE TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
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anyone, regardless of skin color, creed, or nationality could have access to quality health
care facilities. Not only were his ideals avant-garde, but so was the design of the hospital
FLEXIBLE &
FORWARD
THINKING
LWVHOIWKHÂżUVWWREHODLGRXWLQDFDPSXVWRSURPRWHKHDOLQJQRWRQO\SK\VLFDOO\EXWDOVR
psychologically. The remaining Singer Pavilion is one of the last remaining examples of
Gropius architecture and its identity as part of Michael Reeseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus offers an ideal
location to tell not just the story of the Affordable Care Act, but the history of healthcare and
medicine as well. Given the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s struggles in recent years and prime location, it truly holds
the most promise for urban renewal. Its size and versatility lends itself to a wide variety
ECONOMIC
ENGINE
of programmatic spaces including vertical farms, mixed-income living spaces, lakefront
trails, and world-class hotels. And while it has a rich history augmented by the surrounding
community, it has become a blank canvas, malleable and ready to give back to Chicago
once again.
22
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Just as the University of Chicago provided a foundation for investment further south, so
would the Obama Presidential Library (OPL) in Bronzeville. Along with the newly completed
harbor at 31st street, recently approved Lake Meadows Master Plan, and new Green Line
station at 24th and Michigan, the OPL would connect South Side development to the nexus
FUNCTIONAL
of the city and provide an investment anchor in the area. Instead of becoming an island,
inaccessible to those it serves, it would instead form the heart of the area, paying homage
not only to the service of President Obama but also to Michael Reese and the enduring
spirit of Bronzeville.
7KLVORFDWLRQZRXOGUHĂ&#x20AC;HFWDQGDFWLYHO\UHDOL]H2EDPDÂśVYLVLRQIRUFRPPXQLWLHVE\EHLQJ
DFDWDO\VWIRUXQLÂżFDWLRQDQGXUEDQUHQHZDO1HDUO\DFUHVSURYLGHDPSOHVSDFHIRU
ACCOUNTABLE &
PERFORMANCEDRIVEN
the Michael Reese site to weave high-density, multi-use land with the lakefront ecosystem
and nearby public transportation, the library serving as its core. This unique, bounded
ORFDWLRQSURYLGHVWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRFUHDWHDVHOIVXIÂżFLHQWFORVHGORRSV\VWHPWKDWGRHV
not produce waste, generates its own energy, and serves as an model for cutting-edge
sustainable design.
Indeed, sustainability is at the forefront of the vision for the Michael Reese site. This
UNIFIED
DESIGN
VISION
includes going beyond LEED Platinum standards to create a campus functionally
indistinguishable from the natural ecology that existed before Chicago and a library that is
regenerative, giving back to the environment. A review of the genius of the biome would
establish ecological performance standards (EPS) that the site would then be designed to
PHHW+HOOPXWK2EDWD .DVVDEDXP+2.
LVRQHRIWKHOHDGLQJVXVWDLQDEOHGHVLJQÂżUPV
in the world and has collaborated closely with The Biomimicry Guild since 2008 on projects
worldwide to create a partnership on the cusp of sustainable design.
TECHNOLOGICALLY
ADVANCED
program
RESPONSE TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Obama legacy will be one anchored in the themes of inclusion, empowerment, and
respect. The Michael Reese site embodies these ideals, respecting the community by
offering development without displacement, including all Chicagoans through its geographic
AUTHENTIC
accessibility, and empowering Bronzeville to grow both as an economy and as a community.
While institutional involvement would be an integral part of the library, its location on the
Michael Reese site would send a clear message that it is a campus not only for researchers
and tourists, but for everyone. The museum will fully illustrate Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life and presidency,
exploring in detail hallmark achievements such as the Affordable Care Act, the recovery
from the Great Recession, and the ending of the war in Iraq. And it will go beyond the
INSPIRATIONAL
Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s service in isolation, placing these events within their larger contexts to stimulate
GHEDWHGLVFRYHU\DQGIRVWHUXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIKRZ3UHVGLHQW%DUDFN2EDPDÂżWVLQWRWKH
continuum of history.
24
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Situated next door to the McCormick Place and nearby Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive Museum
&DPSXVWKH0LFKDHO5HHVHVLWHZRXOGEHQHÂżWIURPLWVSUR[LPLW\WRWKHVHDWWUDFWLRQV
WKDWDOUHDG\GUDZPLOOLRQVRIYLVLWRUVHYHU\\HDUFRQWULEXWHVRPHWKLQJXQLTXHDQGÂżOOWKH
gap between the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. Locally, the
CIVIC
OPL would illuminate existing, if undervalued, attractions such as the Mies van der Rohe
Campus, Stephen Douglasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tomb, and the house of Muddy Waters. Its location adjacent to
the data artery of Chicago would enable it to be truly global, from streaming inter-Atlantic
FODVVURRPGHEDWHVWRIDFLOLWDWLQJVFKRODUO\UHVHDUFKRIKLJKGHÂżQLWLRQYLGHRÂżOHV
PURPOSEFUL
The Michael Reese site is large enough to accommodate extensive trails and green space,
providing a place to improve community well-being and enhance the biodiversity of the area
by connecting lakefront habitats. It has the potential to manifest both the Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great
GLOBAL
Outdoors and the Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Move! initiatives in tangible ways. A state-of-the-art bike valet center
equipped with showers would encourage sustainable, active commuting to one of Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
most beautiful transit hubs. In addition, more than 400,000 square feet of vertical farming
would improve community health, generate funds, and serve as an interactive learning
experience for students and tourists alike from around the world.
HEALTH &
WELL-BEING
context
RESPONSE TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
There was no place for racial discrimination at the Michael Reese Hospital; the OPL would
expand upon that legacy. The location itself invites mixed-income residential development
so that people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses could not only visit,
ENGAGEMENT
but have the ability to call this site home. By presenting national political issues in an
unbiased way and distilling them down to their local relevance would show those Americans
disenfranchised with Washington how democracy can still work and their importance in the
process. From an academic perspective, its ability to simultaneously partner with multiple
higher education institutions would nurture discourse and improve its quality.
INQUIRY
26
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
The Douglas neighborhood is at the ethnic crossroads of one of the most diverse cities in
the country. Predominantly black, Asian, Hispanic, and white communities (among others)
surround it on all sides, and the OPL would represent not only their unique traits, but also
what they have in common. Library employees would be multilingual to best address the
needs of all visitors and material would be available in various languages. Chicago also
WELCOMING &
TRANSPARENT
boasts one of the largest and most vibrant LGBT communities in America. Given Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
personal support for gay rights and the historic progress that has been made both on federal
DQGVWDWHOHYHOVGXULQJKLVWLPHLQRIÂżFHLWZRXOGEH\HWDQRWKHUJURXSZKRVHSHUVSHFWLYHLV
highlighted by the library. And while it would take many multicultural cues from its host city,
the OPL would also look to the more diverse global population for guidance as well. The
data capabilities of the site introduce the possibility of a robust interactive digital experience
INNOVATIVE
for this global base of virtual visitors in addition to engagement through more typical social
media channels.
When it comes to connectivity, the Michael Reese site is second to none. It hosts an
impressive array of existing multi-modal transportation options, setting it apart from other
areas of the city. Its proximity to I-55, the Metra South Shore Line, the Green line, and
proposed Bus Rapid Transit routes gives it the potential to become a Transit-Oriented
Development. The lakefront trail system would be routed directly into the site, enabling
access not only for pedestrians and cyclists but also for those who would arrive by boat at
the 31st street harbor. Its physical accessibility would be matched by its virtual accessibility,
as it sits four blocks from Lakeside Technology Center at 350 E Cermak road, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
largest data center.
CONNECTED
Bronzeville, June 13, 2014; photo by JJ Jetel
res
ponse
con
tent
response
content
The following section addresses the Response Content
LGHQWL多HGLQWKH5HTXHVWIRU4XDOL多FDWLRQV Document. Images,
diagrams and narratives provide statistical information about
the site, nearby community and the impact that the OPL
would have.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the Request for
4XDOL多FDWLRQV, the information provided seeks to tell a story
about the Michael Reese site and the Bronzeville community.
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
31
res
info
spondent
ormation
team
description
O
44
bama
Campus
The Barack Obama Presidential Library and
Museum Campus Foundation is a 501(c)
(3) organization formed by community
leaders in Bronzeville. The group consists of
LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQWLDOOHDGHUVIURPDURXQG%URQ]HYLOOH
and has strong representation from the Black
Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission
(BMNHAC), a group that is seeking National
Heritage Status for Bronzeville.
The organization responding to the RFQ is led
by Paula Robinson, President of the BMNHAC.
Main point of contact:
Paula Robinson
paula1077@aol.com
(773) 532-9850
34
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
The organization includes experts with a
variety of skill sets at a local, regional and
national level. The core team members and
partners listed on the following page have
been working with advisors throughout the
Chicago region to compile a well-researched
and inspiring package. The experts include
local Bronzeville development and engineering
practices, as well as nationally-recognized
urban design and biomimicry experts.
The organization has multiple committees
that orchestrate and execute the decision
making process. Committees for Real Estate
Development, Transportation, Finance, Social
Media, Sustainability, Legal, Civic Innovation
and Media were established to tell the story of
Bronzeville and the Michael Reese site. What
follows is a result of their collaboration and
hard work together for this inspirational project.
Core Team
Chicago Streetcar Renaissance
Engage Civil Inc.
Partners
Farr & Associates
Abraham Lincoln Centre
Bronzeville Alliance
Blacks in Green
Bronzeville Merchants Association
Black Metropolis Convention & Tourism
Council
Rehab Construction Systems
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition
Authority (MPEA)
A. Philip Randolph, Pullman Porter
Museum
Choose Chicago
Enjoy Illinois
Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
OpenLands
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Chicago Park District
Pervasive Health
Community Advisors
Illinois
Business
Consulting
South Side Community Federal
Credit Union
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Alliance of National Heritage Areas
Chicago Black History Forum
African American Community Trust
Bronzeville Historical Society
Bold Agenda
Green Meeting Industry Council
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Urban Equities Inc.
Deborah Strauss and Associates
FCB
Derric Price Ltd.
Fiscal Austerity and Urban Innovation
Project
Stratz Group
ARC Law Group
East Lake Management + Development
Corp.
Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation
Converge Exchange
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning (CMAP)
Dr. Paul Magelli Sr.
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Michael Reese Foundation
Chicago Community Trust
International Center for Advanced
Internet Research (iCAIR)
Prologue, Inc.
community
c
vision
v
COMMUNITY HISTORY
With the Civil Rights movement and the dismantling
The story of how Bronzeville shares the vision of
of segregation beginning in the 1950s, many
the Obama Presidential Library begins at the turn
families left Bronzeville, which had become
of the twentieth century. Oppressive Jim Crow
overcrowded. As a result, Bronzevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population
laws helped spark the Great Migration, which
declined by more than 75 percent between 1950
brought over half a million former slaves and their
and 2000 and much of the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic
descendants to Chicago in search of opportunity.
base was lost.
But while Chicago proved more progressive than
the places they left behind, discrimination was still
THE OPPORTUNITY
widespread and in many ways forced the black
The location once hosted the Michael Reese
community to survive on its own. Thus formed
hospital campus, named after a man whose vision
what was known as the Black Metropolis, in 1930
to make healthcare accessible to all regardless
becoming Bronzeville. Born out of struggle, an
of nationality, creed, or skin color echoes that of
embodiment of the American Dream, this was a
President Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through the Affordable Care
place where blacks could come and prosper. The
Act. Amid rising costs, it closed its doors in 2008
articles of 7KH&KLFDJR'HIHQGHU, the music of Louis
and was demolished a year later, but soon after
Armstrong, and the pioneering social activism of Ida
held the possibility of becoming the Olympic Village
B. Wells broke boundaries and demonstrated how
for Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 bid. Such a spotlight would
Bronzeville empowered blacks to succeed in ways
have introduced its undervalued cultural assets to
they could not elsewhere. Even if it has lost some
the international community. While Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid
of its luster, its importance in black history and the
was unsuccessful, it preserved the site for future
history of the United States cannot be diminished. It
RSSRUWXQLWLHVWKDWEHWWHUÂżWLWVOHJDF\VXFKDVWKH
is here that the Michael Reese site is located.
Obama Presidential Library. A place that saw the
VXFFHVVRIWKHÂżUVWPHGLFDOLQFXEDWRUFDQSOD\WKDW
role in a new way once again.
36
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
COMPLEMENTARY VISION
The site would be rebuilt in keeping with the old
Locating the OPL in a neighborhood that will
adage of “Be your Brother’s Keeper”. Michael
celebrate the Great Migration Centennial in 2016
Reese did not discriminate against nor abandon
ZKLOHPDNLQJDVWURQJSXVKIRUWKH¿UVW6XVWDLQDEOH
the community around him. The President’s “My
National Heritage site would accurately tell the
Brother’s Keeper” legacy embodies the history
story of a people using the cultural and geographic
of the site and will strengthen the story for future
landscape. The Michael Reese site is the cultural
generations.
and geographic anchor that can best celebrate and
interpret the historical continuum of the President
These stories will be conveyed through the
Cultural Heritage Tourism vision of the Bronzeville
and the nearby community.
area. Current cultural heritage tourism efforts
in Bronzeville take place in numerous venues
The complementary vision of the site, the city, and
the President are rooted in the ideals of rebuilding
at the community level. Just as Chicago was rebuilt
after the Great Fire and the United States was
the Michael Reese site can be rebuilt with greater
well as education and inspiration for visitors. The
of Americans during his campaign and presidency.
That same inspiration and hope will be conveyed to
vigor and hope than before. The Bronzeville TIF
visitors of the OPL and the nearby Black Metropolis
district is designated to revitalize this area and can
site.
these tour guides provides job opportunities as
President brought hope and inspiration to millions
rebuilt after the Great Depression, Bronzeville and
be greatly enhanced if the OPL is located on this
near the site. The workforce training program for
Heritage Area by Cultural Heritage Tourism guides.
Hope and Change formed the foundation of
%URQ]HYLOOHLWZRXOGEHD¿WWLQJSODFHIURPZKLFKWR
spread those ideas again.
Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission
Steering Committee:
Jerry Adelman
David Baker
Christina Beatty
Timuel Black PhD
Terry Nichols Clark PhD
Susan Campbell
Anna Agbe-Davis PhD
Saundra Dougherty
Michael Fountain
Ghian Foreman
Walter Freeman
Teri Graham
Kim Hunt
Rhonda Hardy
Cassandra Houston
Lyn Hughes PhD
Lennox Jackson
Ralph Kindred
Leroy Kennedy
Barbara Kensey
Yvette LeGrand
Harold L. Lucas
Sonya Malunda
Theodore Manley PhD
Tracye Matthews
Mell Monroe
Corlis Moody
Sharon Morgan
Bruce Montgomery
Norman Montgomery
Isobel Neal
Jeri Richards
Paula Robinson
Carolyn Rush
Christopher Reed PhD
Tim Samuelson
Charles Sutton
Alisa Starks
Arthur Turnbull
Bernard Turner
Ron Thomas
Don Wallace
Bill Williams
Ira Williams
Donna Williamson
Antoinette Wright
project
site
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
the site
The project site offers 98 acres of potential development.
This includes 48 acres for the former Michael Reese
hospital site, 28 acres of truck marshalling yard and 22
acres of additional site parcels. The land is mostly vacant
and is bounded by 26th and 31st street, Martin Luther
King Drive, and Lake Shore Drive.
Just as the Michael Reese Hospital provided quality
healthcare to individuals regardless of nationality or race,
the site has the potential to serve as a welcoming location
for people of all backgrounds as it did in years past.
Many medical innovations took place at Michael Reese,
VXFKDVWKH多UVWLQFXEDWRUVWDWLRQIRUSUHPDWXUHEDELHV
This site has the potential to serve as a future incubator
for transportation, tourism, and technology that will create
research collaborations and drive economic development
for the region.
As the demographics of the neighborhood around
the hospital changed by the 1950s, Michael Reese
became an agent of urban renewal in lieu of deserting
the neighborhood. Locating the OPL on this site will
plant the seed in fertile ground and help realize this
same dedication to urban renewal and the surrounding
community.
view looking north
view looking south
42
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
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THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
“a blank canvas,
a fertile ground”
site survey
7KH0LFKDHO5HHVHVLWHLVIDLUO\ÀDWZHVWRIWKH
Electric and water lines run through the existing
Metra rail line. The contours in this area will allow for
street network and future Comed and People’s
easy development west of the Metra line.
Gas utility lines are being reserved for placement
along Cottage Grove Avenue and 28th streets.
The Metra line is 8-10 feet below the grade of
the western portion of the site and would require
decking and/or pedestrian bridges over the rail for
new development.
The Truck Marshalling yards are at a similar grade
level as the Metra line and will require decking and/
or pedestrian bridges to tie the site to the lakefront.
Future storm water and sewer infrastructure is being
reserved for the existing street network, but future
storm and sewer infrastructure would be needed for
site development.
Roadway improvements would be needed for the
majority of the site to complement development
performance and site accessibility.
DS-5
C2-5
PD 331
M1-3
M1-3
PD 26
PD 986
C2-3
PD 18
PD 802
PD 40
RT-4
PD 1133
RM-5
POS-1
B1-3
B3-3
B1-3
RM-5
C3-7
RS-3
PD 712
PD 1169
T H EPD
B A235
RACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
POS-1
zoning
The zoning for the Michael Reese site is mostly “Planned Development”. This designation allows the site
to embody the principle of being Flexible and Forward Thinking. Planned Developments have the ability to
contain a multitude of future programmatic elements that will meet the intent of the OPL Guiding Principles.
The Michael Reese site is currently owned by the
The Northwest parcels are owned by Self-Storage,
City of Chicago and is designated as a “PD 18” and
McDonalds and Advocate Health and are zoned
“PD 1133”, Planned Developments for Residential,
as “PD18”, Planned Developments and “M1-3”
Businesses and Institutional Uses.
Manufacturing.
The Marshalling Yard is currently owned by
The Prairie Shores development to the west is
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and is a
zoned as “RM-5”, Residential.
“PD-1055”, Planned Development for Residential,
Businesses and Institutional Uses.
The Lake Michigan Park and Lake Shore Drive
parcel to the east of the site is designated as “POS1”, Park and Open Space.
POS-1
planned development
downtown core
residential
park and open space
commercial
business
manufacturing
existing dedicated r.o.w. to remain
existing r.o.w. to be vacated
new r.o.w. to be dedicated
POS-1
PD 1157
DEMOGR
50
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cultural
amenities
16
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19
Shedd Aquarium
Field Museum
Planetarium
Soldier Field
Burnham Harbor
Northerly Island
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. Calumet Plant
Second Presbyterian Church
Blue Heaven Foundation / Chess Records
Motor Row Historic District
Chinatown
McCormick Place
Quinn Chapel Church
Singer Pavilion
Dunbar High School
Unity Hall
Illinois Institute of Technology
31st. Street Harbor
Burnham Park
Victory Sculpture
Douglas Tomb State Memorial
US Cellular Field
Lake Meadows Apartments
Ellis Park
King Drive Walk of Fame (Public Art)
South Side Community Art Center
Bronzeville
290 Chicago
landmarks
93 local
Black Metropolis
historic landmarks.
10 colleges.
SITE
FUTURE HIGH-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT
23 elementary
schools.
BLACK METROPOLIS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
Bronzeville
community
family
culture
54
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
is...
business
learning
faith
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THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
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site conditions &
opportunities
The Michael Reese site includes elements that may affect development but will ultimately act as key opportunities for
urban renewal:
98 acre large development
Uranium and radium-contamination
•
•
Although the OPL requires a much smaller parcel of
remediation to create a site that is indistinguishable
a diverse developmental program that will spur vast
from nature. Remediation plans have been proposed
economic development.
and cleanup is necessary for the future vision of the
Chicago Lakefront.
Connection to McCormick under Highway 55
•
Creating a more pedestrian-friendly connection
between the site and McCormick Place will draw
Singer Pavilion Adaptive Reuse
•
visitors in to explore site assets.
%ODFN0HWURSROLVRI¿FHVDQG&XOWXUDO+HULWDJH
Tourism training venues are potential programmatic
Decking over the Metra and Truck Marshalling
uses. A healthcare history museum, a Chicago
yards will allow for vertical development and native
Public School and a Chicago Public library are other
vegetation that has the potential to realize the same
FLYLFDQGHFRQRPLFEHQH¿WVDV0LOOHQQLXP3DUN
The Singer Pavilion is a building reuse opportunity
that can house multiple uses on site in the future.
Truck Marshalling yard and Metra Rail Line
•
Meeting site ecological performance goals will require
land, the Michael Reese site is large enough to host
potential reuse programs.
•
infrastructure:
transportation
red line
green line
metra line
bike routes
bus routes
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
3 freeway
access points.
3 rail lines.
5 bus routes.
2 major airports.
lakefront trails,
sidewalks and
boat docks.
HIGH
SPEED
ZONES
7
5
7KH0D\RUKDVLGHQWL多HGWKH0LFKDHO
Reese Hospital site as a crucial high
speed internet location.
8
4
3
2
9
12
14
10
13
6
1
1. Michael Reese Hospital Site
9. Illinois Medical District
2. West Loop Area
10. Loop Area
3. River North
11. IIT
4. Bucktown/Wicker Park
12. University of Illinois, Chicago
5. Ravenswood Industrial Corridor
13. Columbia College
6. McCormick Place/Cermak
14. Chicago Roosevelt University
7. Loyola University
15. University of Chicago/University
8. DePaul University
of Chicago Medical Center
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
11
15
â&#x20AC;&#x153;even at the speed
of light, distance
mattersâ&#x20AC;?
infrastructure: data
7KHÂżUVW3UHVLGHQWLDOÂłRQOLQHOLEUDU\Â´ZLOOEHFRQ-
Internet2 is an exceptional community of leaders in
VWUXFWHGRXWRIEULFNVPRUWDUDQGÂżEHURSWLFFDEOH
research, academia, industry, and government who
Individuals of all backgrounds around the world will
create via innovative technologies. Internet2 seeks
have access to this library without physically visiting
WREULQJKLJKVSHHGÂżEHUWRWKHORFDOQHLJKERUKRRGV
this site.
through the Bronzeville Optics Network (BON) and
Illinois Century Network (ICN).
The Michael Reese site is adjacent to high-bandZLGWKÂżEHUOLQHVWKDWIROORZWKHUDLOURDGULJKWRIZD\
Internet2 is comprised of:
a critical asset to companies that place a premium
on data speed. Even at the speed of light, distance
matters.
Chicago and the site are at the crossroads of the
QDWLRQÂśVÂżEHUOLQHV7KHZRUOGÂśVODUJHVWGDWDFHQWHU
â&#x20AC;˘
252 U.S. universities
â&#x20AC;˘
82 leading corporations
â&#x20AC;˘
41 regional and state education networks
â&#x20AC;˘
More than 65 national research and education
networking partners
(the Lakeside Technology Center at 350 E. Cermak)
is just a few blocks away from the Michael Reese
The siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close proximity to renowned research
site.
universities, federal research labs, Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central
business district, and major tech companies will
New companies creating information technology
products and services, and seeking to be close to
large-scale server and bandwidth infrastructure,
ZLOOÂżQGWKDWWKH23/7HUDELW3OD]DRQWKH0LFKDHO
Reese site has the potential to give them the edge
they need to succeed in the global economy.
create educational collaboration networks. K-12
schools, libraries and community colleges will be
able to collaborate with higher education partners
and participate in interactive video-conferencing
programs with the National Park Service, National
Archives, and the Library of Congress.
The OPL Terabit Plaza on the Michael Reese site
has the potential to touch everybody with a cell
phone and/or internet connection.
Calumet Core is a 220-square mile
opportunity to transform a region in transition
into a sustainable land use urban area
project site
infrastructure:
ecological
The Michael Reese site is situated in the Millennium
The project team has partnered with the Biomimicry
Reserve boundary and will be designed to enhance
Guild to help establish a “Genius of the Place”
the ecological performance goals of the Reserve
for the Michael Reese site that will determine the
project and the “America’s Great Outdoors” initiative
ecological performance indicators for the site.
launched by President Obama. The Millennium
Reserve project is the largest collaborative of urban
open space in the country and the site will be a
great connector to the natural habitat on Northerly
,VODQGDQGWKH%XUQKDPÀ\ZD\
This site size allows for a linkage of ecological
preservation to cultural preservation and will retain
Chicago’s “City in a Garden” reputation by bringing
natural coastal habitat into the site to act as a living
machine.
62
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
“Biomimicry is taking a design
challenge and then emulating
an ecosystem that has already
solved that challenge.”
BRONZEVILLE
carbon sequestration
g
in
ild
bu
il
so
ph n
os itr
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or en
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s nd
cy
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ev
ap
otra
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pi
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ty
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water collection
and storage
Project Partner
solar gain and
UHÀHFWDQFH
- Janine Benyus, Co-founder and President of the Biomimicry Guild
transp
& acce
portation
essibility
on-site
accessibility
In addition to the multiple means of
transportation that are available, the
urban renewal of the Michael Reese
site would also allow for ease of
accessibility within the development.
The site can use existing assets to
operate as a national example of a
Transit Oriented Development (TOD).
Highway 55, Highway 90, the Metra
OLQHWKH*UHHQDQG5HGOLQHVÂżYHEXV
routes, the McCormick bus-way and
5min walk
lakefront bike trails currently serve
the site. Future considerations for a
centralized trolley system, Bus rapid
transit systems, a central bike valet and
shower station, and disability transport
assistance would further enhance
accessibility.
The site is not only close to downtown
Chicago assets, but it is also on the way
for tens of thousands of local travelers
going to South Suburbs. Existing transit
systems can deliver potential visitors
with minimal capital expenditures. This
connection would bolster neighborhood
identity and improve connections
between the neighborhood shopping
districts, future Cermak Green Line â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
station, and McCormick Place.
Metra Station
Metra Electric District Line
Bus Route
Attraction
5min Walking Distance
66
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Street Sidewalk
Park Paths
Pedestrian Plaza
68
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
tourism statistics
40,000,000
annual visitors
to chicago.
over 400
theaters and art
galleries.
7,300
restaurants.
e
project
xecution
project execution
If the Michael Reese site is selected to host the
the Chicago Community Trust to serve as our
OPL, the President Obama Library and Museum
ÂżVFDODJHQWWRKHOSXVDGPLQLVWHUIXQGVDQGDFFHSW
Campus Foundation would work with its existing
ODUJHFRQWULEXWLRQV:KLOHZHKDYHQRW\HWDIÂżOLDWHG
partners and core team members to formally
with any university, we are open to exploring
XQGHUWDNHWKHSODQQLQJGHVLJQDQGÂżQDQFLQJ
SDUWQHUVKLSVDQGDOWHUQDWLYHÂżQDQFLQJPRGHOVVRDV
of the project. To purchase the site from the City
to best serve the surrounding community and the
of Chicago we have launched an international
vision of the Barack Obama Foundation.
crowdfunding campaign to raise the necessary
capital. As a 501 (c)(3) organization, we have asked
economic impact
Placing the Obama Presidential Library on the
Current development trends for the area are positive
Michael Reese site would catalyze development
over the long-term, but the OPL would accelerate
in Bronzeville and the surrounding South Side
growth and substantially improve its quality.
neighborhoods, acting as an anchor for public and
Summarized below are development projections
private investment. Estimated economic impact of
for the Bronzeville area if the OPL is built on the
the OPL on the Michael Reese site would exceed
Michael Reese site.
previous projections.
Michael Reese Site Projected Economic Development
Annually
20-year period
Residential
400 units
8,000 units
Retail
37,500 SF
750,000 SF
2IÂżFH
25,000 SF
500,000 SF
Hotel Rooms
125 rooms
2,500 rooms
OPL Factor
25%
6RXUFH-RKQVRQ&RQVXOWLQJ
72
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Further analysis shows that the OPL would draw
A number of other factors make the Michael Reese
1.2 million tourists to the area due to its proximity
site an ideal driver for Economic Impact:
to nearby Chicago and Bronzeville cultural assets.
Nearly 15 million tourists visit McCormick Place,
â&#x20AC;˘
sites. 78% of adult travelers are heritage
Motor Row, China Town, IIT, and US Cellular Field
travelers that stay longer and spend more
every year. Placing the OPL as close to these sites
money per visit.
as possible will draw visitors from these locations.
These visitors would spend $40 per capita (a
Locating OPL near National Heritage Tourism
â&#x20AC;˘
The size of the site allows for well-designed
conservative estimate) mainly at local existing and
natural green space like Millennium Park which
new businesses. This spending would encourage
attracts 5 million visitors generates $78 million
prosperity without displacement and provide an
in tax revenue, and supports $1.4 billion worth
estimated 13,234 jobs for the nearby community.
of nearby residential developments.
The library would be directly responsible for 25% of
6SHFLÂżFÂżJXUHVIRUVKRUWDQGORQJWHUPJURZWKDUH
real estate development in the immediate area.
outlined below.
Michael Reese Site Projected Economic Development
Estimated Impact from Spending at New Development ($000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 10
Year 20
at New Retail
$15,000
$15,375
$15,759
$16,153
$16,557
$18,733
$23,980
at New Hotels
4,585
9,469
14,665
20,188
26,054
61,114
167,899
10,000
11,314
14,483
Spending
OPL Oper. Budget
1.2 M. Tourist @ $40 ea
Total Spending
33,600
36,000
38,400
43,200
48,000
54,308
69,518
$53,185
$60,844
$68,825
$79,542
$100,612
$145,468
$275,880
OPL Factor
25%
Direct Spending
$53,185
$60,844
$68,825
$79,542
$100,612
$145,468
$275,880
Indirect Spending
17,551
20,079
22,712
26,249
33,202
48,005
91,040
Induced Spending
22,870
26,163
29,595
34,203
43,263
62,551
118,628
Total Spend
$93,606
$107,086
$121,131
$139,994
$177,076
$256,024
$485,548
Jobs
1,615
2,232
2,848
3,756
4,440
7,340
13,234
Tax Revenue
$13,105
$14,992
$16,958
$19,599
$24,791
$35,843
$67,977
Total Spend
$23,402
$26,771
$30,283
$34,998
$44,269
$64,006
$121,387
Jobs
404
558
712
939
1,110
1,835
3,308
Tax Revenue
$3,276
$3,748
$4,240
$4,900
$6,198
$8,961
$16,994
25% Attr. to OPL
6RXUFH5,06,,-RKQVRQ&RQVXOWLQJ
economic
development
...harness south side potential VRXWKVLGHUV
,
draw from downtown...
21% unemployment
23% living in poverty
$34K median income
207 foreclosures per square mile
3 miles from downtown
+$291M additional tourism dollars
+5000 additional full-time jobs
93 nearby designated landmarks in bronzeville
74
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
...&
多OOWKHJDS
1.2M additional tourists
$14M increase in tax revenue
3,132 permanent jobs &
3,280 temporary jobs
6,000 residential units
2,500 hotel rooms
750,000 square feet of retail
armour
armstrong
ashburn
ashe
asian human services charter
aspira
attucks
audubon
austin business and entrepreneurship
austin polytech
avalon
park
back of the yards
banner academy west barnard
barry
barton
n
bass
ss
ck
blaine
blair
bateman
beard
beasley
beaubien
beethoven
beidler
er
belding
beld
bell
gan
bond
bo
boone
belmont-cragin
bennett
brentano
bridge
bright
brighton
h
park
bronzeville
uchet
bowen
bronzeville lighthouse
brooks
brown
brownell
ell
brunson
b
budlong burbank
adwell
wel
brennemann
burke
burley
burnham/anthony
burnside
de
burr z byrne burroughs
carroll/rosenwald
carson
carter
caat
caldwell
calmeca academy
camelot safe academyy
cameron
canter
canty
cardenas
carver
carver
carnegie
chicago ag
chicago chtr collegiate
chicago
ago excel contr acad
chicago high school for the
military academy
arts
chicago military academy
chicago talent
chicago
c
vocational
chopin
chistopher
avalon
casals
cassell
basil
bucktown
quest
ellison
irving park
larry hawkins
lloyd bond academy
longwood campuss
loomis primary
northtown
prairie
washington park
west
castellanos
chalmbelden
wrightwood
g
claremont
clark academic prep
p p
clark
clayy
clemente
catalyst-howland
clev
cleveland
clinton
clissold
cmsa
coleman
coles
collins
ers
catalyst charter
academy
columbia explorers
columbus
community links
cook
chappell
catalyst circle rock
coonly
cooper
corkery
corliss
courtney
crane
crown
csw career academy
chase
cather
cullen
curie
curtis
cvcs
daley
darwin
davis
daws
de diego
decatur
chavez cuffe
deneen
depriest
epr
dett
dever
devry
dewey
dirksen
disney
disney ii
dixon
chicago
doolittle east dore
douglass
drake
drummond
dubois
dulles
dunbar
dunne
academy dodge
durkin parkk
dusable
dvorak
dyett
earhart
earle
eberhart
ebinger
edgebrook
edison
edison park
edwardseecs
ellington
epic
eric solorio
ericson
esmond
everett
evergreen
evers
excel
fairfield
falconer
faraday
farnsworth
nsw h
farragut
fenger
fernwood
field
finkl
fiske
foreman
fort dearborn
fo
foster park
franklin
frazier
fuller
fulton
funston
gage park
galapagos
gale
gal
galileo
gallistel
garvey
garvy
gary
gillespie
goethe
goode
goudy
ou
graham
gray
greeley
green
greene
gregory
greshem
grimes/fleming
grissom
gunsaulus
haines
hale
haley
hamilton
hamline
hammond
hampton
ham
hancock
hanson park
harlan
harper
harte
ha
harvard
haugan
hawthorne
hay
hayt
healy
hearst
hedges
hefferan
era
henderson
hendricks
henry
hendry ford
hearst
hedges
hefferan
henderson
hendricks
henry
hendry ford
hernandez
herzi
hibbard
higgins
hinton
h
hirsh
hitch
holden
holmes
hope
hope
institute
howe
hoyne
e
hubbard
hughes
hurley
hyde park
infinity
instituto
acad
instituto justice - rudy
ru lozano inter-american
intrinsic
irving
jackson
jahn
jamieson
jefferson
jenner
jensen
johnson
jones
joplin
jordan
juarez
julian
jungman
kanoon
keller
kellman
kellogg
kelly
kelvyn park
kennedy
kenwood
kershaw
kilmer
king
kinzie
kipling
kipp
kipp-ascend
kipp-bloom
kozminski
kwame nkrumah academy
ac
lake view
lane tech
langford
lara
lasalle
lasalle ii
lavizzo
lawndale
excel
romano butler
south chicago
campbell
hunter perkins
h
charter 7
learn middle school
lee
legacy
legal prep
leland
lenart
lewis
libby
lincoln
lincoln park
lindblom
linne
little black pearl
little village
lloyd
locke
ocke
logandale
lorca
lovett
lowell
lozano
lyon
madero
ma
madison
magic johnson-north lawndale
magic johnson-south
jo
shore
manierre
manley
mann
mariano azuela
marine
m
academy
marquette
marsh
marshall
marvin cam
camras
mason
mather
mayer
mays
mcauliffe
mcclellan
mccormick
cc
mccutcheon
mcdade
mcdade
mcdowell
mckay
mcnair
mcpherson
m
melody
metcalfe
mireles
mitchell
mollison
monroe
montefiore
montessori-englewood
moos
morgan park
morrill
morton
mozart
mt greenwood
wood
d
mt vvernon
multicultural arts school
murphy
murray
rr
namaste
nash
ash
na
national
teachers academy
neil
nettelhorst
new field
newberry
nicholson
nightingale
ninos heroes
nixon
n
nlcp-christiana
p-c
nlcp-collins
nobel
noble street-bulls
noble
n
street-corner
noble
e street-golder
strreetnoble street-johnson
noble street-muchin
noble street-pritzker
ker
noble
oble street-purple
street-pu
str
noble street-rauner
noble street-rowe-clark
k
noble street-silver
er
noble
oble stree
str
street ch
charter
noble street-crimson
et
noble street-orange
north river
north-grand
n
northside
ide
e college
olle prep
pre
northside
learning center
northwest middle
norwood park
ogden
oglesby
oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;keeffe
ombudsman
ombudsm
onahan
oriole park
orozco
o
orr academy
ortiz de dominguez
otis
tis
oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;toole
owen
owens
palmer
park
manor
parker
e
parkside
pasteur
pathways
pathways-avondale
a
payton college prep
peace &
education
peck
pecs
peirce
penn
perez
pershing east
as
perspectives charter
perspectives josli
perspectives/iit
peterson
phillips
phoenix military academy
piccolo
p
pickard
pilsen
pirie
plamon
don
plato
p
poe classical
polaris
portage park
powell academy
my
prescott
prieto
pritzker
prologue
prologue-johnston
prosser
prussing
p
pulaski
pullman
raby
by
The central location and size of the Michael Reese
ravenswood
ray
reavis
reilly
reinberg
revere
r
richard t crane
e
richard
academy
rickover naval academy
robeson
robinson
inso
rogers
ro rs
roosevelt
site allows for a development plan that creates a Local
rudolph
ruggles
ruiz
ryder
sabin
salazar
sandoval
saucedo
sau
sawyer
sayre
scammon
schmid
school of leadership
schubert
schur
Education Collaboration Zone. This zone would be an urban
seward
shabazz
sheridan
sherman
sherwood
shields
shoesmith
s
simeon
simpson
sizemore
skinner
smith
smyser
smyth
social just
laboratory and research institution for not just one, but
solomon
south loop
south shore fine arts
south shore international
southsid
many higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and local
spry
stagg
steinmetz
stem magnet
stevenson
stock
stone
stowe
sullivan
sumner
sutherland
swift
taft
talcott
talman
tanner
tarkin
technology companies.
team
telpochcalli
thomas
thorp
tilden
till
uofc-donog
turner-drew
twain
uic college prep
uofc-woodlawn
uofc-woodson
uno-51st and hom
A Chicago Public School collaboration lab would be
uno-fuentes
uno-marquez
uno-near west
uno
located on-site. This urban learning lab can play host to
uno-paz
uno-st marks
uno-tamayo
uno-torres
uno-sandra ciscneros
uno charter high school
un
the groups mentioned above and give local K-12 students
uno-soccer
uplift
urban prep-bronzeville
urban prep-englewood
pre
urban prep-west
v.o.i.s.e.
vanderpoel
an opportunity to pursue a career in Science, Technology,
v.o.i.s.e.
vanderpoel
an
vaughn
vick
volta
von steuben
wa
walsh
ward
warren
was
Engineering, and Math (STEM).
w
washington
hing
waters
webster
wells
wen
west ridge
westcott
westinghouse
whistler
histler
w
white
whitney
itney
wh
whitney
wildwood world magnet
williams prep
winnie mandela
woodlawn
woodso
yates
yccs-addams
yccs-aspira pantoja
yccs-austin
yccs-campos
yccs-cca
chatham
yccs-community academy
yccs
yccs-houston
yccs-innovations
yccs-la
mckinley
yccs-olive harvey
yccs-sull
76
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
yccs-virtual
yccs-west town
yccs-wests
youth development
york
young womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
educational
impact
in
n-
randolph
ds career
rowe
uganash
rz
senn
shoop
ice high
de
spencer
suder
ngton
taylor
tilton
tonti
ghue
uofc-nko
man
uno-casas
-northside
uno-zizumbo
no-immaculate
urban prep-west
est
acker
wadsworth
ds
shington
on high
gh school
ntworth
nt
rth
west park
young
whittier
on
world language
a
yccs-association
a academy
yccss-community service
atino youth
yccslivan
yccs-truman
yccside historic
leadership
young
regional
7 big ten schools
chicago metro
5 major research institutions
12 colleges
65,000 Loop college students
649 K-12 Chicago Public Schools
400,545 CPS students P-12
bronzeville
121,793 people
4,682 high school students
7,616 elementary students
23 elementary schools
10 high schools
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notebaert nature museum 277,410
18-mile lakefront trail
chicago history museum 224,536
26-mile boulevard
network, started in 1869
museum of contemporary art 232,637
26-mile public
lakeshore park system
art institute 232,637
shedd aquarium 2,169,333
103-acre burnham
wildlife corridor
OBAMA
PRESIDENTIAL
LIBRARY
adler planetarium 479,463
12th St/roos.
¿HOGPXVHXP 1,247,708
18th St
3,308 jobs for nearby residents
3-mile stretch of
lakefront access
natural coastal
habitat with 137
species of birds
McCormick
1,000,000 SURMHFWHG visitors/year
+200,000 w/ downtown proximity
27th St
$1 billion SURMHFWHG annual revenue
+$485 million w/ downtown proximity
museum of science and industry 1,456,985
dusable museum 102,603
THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
continuation of
millennium reserve and
EXUQKDPÀ\ZD\
1,200,000 visitors
“Where are we going to draw
tourists? That’s going to be
a key factor that might favor,
for example... the Michael
Reese site.”
- Tom Corfman, Political Editor, Crain’s Chicago Business
tourism
Locating the OPL near existing Chicago cultural sites,
Bronzeville Heritage attractions, and multiple alternative
transportation options will drive high levels of attendance to
not only the OPL, but to other undervalued assets nearby.
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enhancements
to the physical
environment
The Michael Reese site is currently a 98-acre blank canvas.
A site of this size and condition has the greatest opportunity
IRULQQRYDWLRQDQGDĂ&#x20AC;H[LELOLW\IRUSURJUDPPDWLFVSDFHVWKDW
enhance the current environment. The proposed design
for the OPL includes everything from natural habitat to
vertical farms to technology and education collaboration
zones. Some of the proposed enhancements to the physical
environment can be seen below.
1. Metra/Multi-modal Station
2. Bike Storage/Shower Facility
3. Vertical Farms & Market
4. Obama Library
5. Urban Sustainability Center
6. Education Collaboration Zone
7. Living Machine Promenade
8. Tech Center
9. Coastal Habitat & Bird Sanctuary
co
enga
mmunity
agement
community
engagement
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – RESPECT,
TRUST, PURPOSE, SUCCESS
PILLARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT –
CRITERIA
The most empowering community engagement
Seven pillars anchor an effective community
brings together numerous interests – civic and
engagement strategy:
business leaders, citizens and communities – in one
Involvement – invite all stakeholders: people, groups
XQL¿HGDQGRQJRLQJUHODWLRQVKLSEXLOWXSRQPXWXDO
and organizations
respect and trust. All work together with a common
•
purpose and vision for long-lasting success.
Support – develop approaches to overcome
barriers to involvement
•
Planning – identify needs and available
CORE PRINCIPLES
resources for the scope of engagement
Core principles shape and guide community
actionable steps and milestones
engagement:
•
Communication – create effective methods for
•
Inform
sharing, accessing, and listening in meaningful
•
Consult
ways
•
Involve
•
Collaborate
•
Empower
•
Improvement – continue to improve
engagement through dialogue and process
evaluation; build upon best practices
•
Feedback – provide meaningful ways to listen
to community ideas and concerns to continually
take the pulse of engagement
•
Evaluation – establish criteria and methods
to continuously evaluate the engagement
program in both quantitative and qualitative
measurements
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THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
2016 Great Migration Centennial Commission
Co-Chairs:
Illinois State Senator
Mattie Hunter
Illinois State Representative
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Members:
Carol L. Adams, PhD
Barbara Allen
Timuel Black, PhD
Michelle T. Boone
Melissa Cherry
Ronald Childs
Matthew Cooper
Warren Chapman
Albert R. Grace Jr.
James Grossman
Zada Johnson, PhD
Ra Joy
Darlene Clarke Hine, PhD
OUTREACH TOOLKIT
•
Lyn Hughes, PhD
Eileen R. Mackevich
Terry Mazany
Quintin E. Primo III
Paula Robinson
John Rowe
Ernest Sawyer
William A Von Hoene, Jr.
Laura S. Washington
Nikki Zollar
Technology
•
Numerous tools for effective outreach at the local,
Utilize an “open space” technology
approach where applicable to connect the
national and international level exist to build and
local community to the global community.
sustain engagement.
•
Audit existing communication resources within
communities and among groups and business
•
•
organizations
Effective community engagement must include a
•
Jump-start best practices
meaningful process for evaluation to:
•
,GHQWLI\DQG¿OOJDSV
•
Help set objectives
Establish quarterly public forums throughout
•
Monitor progress
the community to update, engage, and capture
•
Measure achievements
feedback
•
Identify lessons for improved best practices
Utilize Arts & Culture to engage community
•
Participants express creativity
•
Helps develop common vision
•
Spurs more dialogue
•
Live stream events for national and
international connectivity
•
EVALUATION
Workshops and Focus Groups
•
Allows for small to medium-sized groups
to participate in one-day events to provide
direct input
COLLECTING DATA
Getting baseline ongoing data on the community
engagement process, through:
•
Interviews and focus groups
•
Questionnaires to groups following key
meetings and events
•
Online surveys
indic
ations of
support
1368 N. Mohawk
Chicago, IL 60610-4692
312-751-1693
www.campdouglas.org
David L. Keller
Managing Director
June 13, 2014
DĂƌƟŶ H. EĞƐďŝƩ
The Barack Obama FŽƵŶĚĂƟon
300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Dear Mr. EĞƐďŝƩ͕
The Camp Douglas ZĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ is developing a museum to be located on the
site of the Civil War military camp, Camp Douglas. This ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů facility is likely to be
a part of a “museum campus” devoted to historic Bronzeville. In ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕ the
FŽƵŶĚĂƟon is ĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů programs in the Bronzeville community and
throughout Chicagoland to increase awareness of the history of the area during the Civil
War. Over the past three years we have sponsored three archaeological ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƟŽŶƐ
on the Camp Douglas site.
Camp Douglas, ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐ of 60 acres, located between 31st Street, 33rd Place, CoƩĂŐĞ
Grove and Giles Avenues, was the largest military facility in Chicago during the Civil War;
training 40,000 Union soldiers and housing a total of 30,000 Confederate prisoners
during its existence between 1861 and 1865.
The ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ of the Barack Obama Library on the former site of the Michael Reese
Hospital would be an important and meaningful ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ to the Bronzeville community
adding to the historic ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶĐĞ of the community.
Located is close proximity to the downtown area within easy ƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶ for
Chicagoans and visitors alike, we strongly support this ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ as the museum’s home.
Sincerely,
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THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
June 16, 2014
Martin H. Nesbitt
The Barack Obama Foundation
300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030
Chicago, IL 60601
Dear Mr. Nesbitt:
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on creating
sustainable and equitable communities, is proud to have worked for many years with parties involved
with the revitalization of the South Side of Chicago. Our efforts range from transit and active
transportation initiatives, to historic preservation, energy and water conservation, and green
infrastructure installations in neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland and across the country.
We are pleased to submit this letter of support for the development of the South Lakefront Michael
Reese Hospital site as the Global Chicago anchor for an Obama Library and Museum Campus,
including the people-intensive Museum venue, designed as an Online Library Platform with other
universities/libraries and heritage/conservation places in the City of Chicago and around the world.
CNT has pioneered tools for transit-oriented development and provided consumers and planners tools
for decision-making. Our Housing and Transportation (H+TÂ&#x160;) Affordability Index, for example,
demonstrates how the combined costs of housing and transportation impact the true affordability of
place. We also recently launched Transit Future (www.transitfuture.org), a campaign to create a new
investment stream for improved and expanded public transit in Cook County. Transit Future is
supported by community, business and public organizations, and led by Jacky Grimshaw, CNTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vice
President for Policy, who also serves on the board of directors of President Obama Library and
Museum Campus Foundation.
All of our work aims to provide the imagination, information, and innovation to create more efficient,
equitable, and livable urban communities. In this spirit, we look forward to working with the
Presidential Library Foundation to create a destination that represents the best of Chicago for our
fellow Americans and for visitors from countries all over the world.
Sincerely yours,
Kathryn Tholin
CEO
Cc: Obama Presidential Library and Museum Campus Foundation
Center for Neighborhood Technology x 2125 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 x p: (773) 278-4800 x www.cnt.org
June 14, 2014
Martin H. Nesbitt
The Barack Obama Foundation
300 East Randolph Street, Suite 4030
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Dear Mr. Nesbitt,
By way of introduction I am Dr. Lyn Hughes founder of the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter
Museum, located the Historic Pullman district, and I am also the founder of the Center for Black
Labor Research Culture and Education. I write this letter to demonstrate and inform the
committee of my support of the RFQ being submitted by the President Obama Library &
Museum Campus Foundation for the proposed site to be located at the former Michael Reese
Hospital location.
While I applaud all of the groups submitting an RFQ for this magnificent project, I am somewhat
saddened that there are multiple submittals all being submitted by people who have worked
together in the past and in most we cases continue to do so. Just think of what a tremendous
submission it could have been if all of them worked on a singular proposal.
There are numerous academic institutions that are a part of the various teams, but it is my
opinion—this kind of Cultural Economic Development project presents an unprecedented
opportunity for a collective of a much more unique opportunity. More important, it could serve
as a model for the nation. While the composition of the foundation itself is not officially an
academic institution, the participants, partners, board members, advisors etc. include people
like me. Many of us hold advanced degrees and have participated in scholarly research projects
for decades. Our concept is that the Obama Campus would work with Multiple Universities.
My own research has been focused on Black labor History and Cultural Economic Development.
In fact, the title of my doctoral dissertation was: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF
CULTURAL POLICY ON CULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
CED is a relatively new phenomenon with limitless potential, and in this case could not only
become an economic engine based upon both the national and international tourism
attraction, the umbrella for CED—but it also has the potential to have a major economic and
cultural impact upon segments of the community that are often left out in the disbursement of
the meaningful resources.
PO BOX 6276 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60680-6276
10406 SOUTH MARYLAND AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60628 ▪ 773-850-8580
WWW.AprPullmanPorterMuseum.org
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In addition to our own respective efforts with our own respective organizations and institution,
many of us have spent countless volunteer hours, supporting the effort to obtain National
Heritage Area designation anchored in the Bronzeville community. That initiative has spawned
multiple efforts like the Great Migration Centennial, which includes a collaborative project,
between the Bronzeville Convention and Tourism Council and the A. Philip Randolph Pullman
Porter Museum. The tour itself has developed into an international tourist attraction. In the
past month alone, the tour has brought visitors to the south side of Chicago from England and
the Netherlands.
This is just example of the kind of activity this initiative, the Obama Presidential Library &
Museum Campus could /make for Chicago, but specifically for the urban community in general.
It is my sincere hope that you give thorough and favorable consideration to their RFQ.
Sincerely,
Lyn Hughes, Founder President Emeritus
A Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
CC: Paula Robinson, President
Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission
PO BOX 6276 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60680-6276
10406 SOUTH MARYLAND AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60628 â&#x2013;Ş 773-850-8580
WWW.AprPullmanPorterMuseum.org
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